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My first work computeran IBM PC/AT, circa 1987was a true desktop PC in that the box housing the CPU and other innards actually sat on my desk, lying horizontally with the (CRT) monitor set on top of it. By the early 1990s, manufacturers of what became known as IBM PC clones (or simply "clones") had taken to cramming more and faster components into increasingly bloated chasses. Few of the hulking mega-towers that emerged from this era actually resided on desktops; instead, they were banished underneath.

More recently, thanks to advances in component manufacture as well as shifting tastes, desktop PCs have finally come full-circle. We're seeing a resurgence of small-form-factor PCs that can be placed inconspicuously behind a monitor or fill a space on a shelf the size of a Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (if not smaller).

Although boutique vendors like Shuttle have been making small-form-factor PCs for many years, it was the launch of the Apple Mac Mini in 2005 that set the compact PC revolution in full swing. In its early years the Mac Mini ruled, but other small yet sensational PCs have caught up with it. Still, the Apple Mac mini (Nvidia GeForce 9400M) launched earlier this year packs components more potent than ever into the same 2- by 6.5- by 6.5-inch frame that Apple has stuck to for the Mini since the get-go. You'll have to supply your own keyboard and mouse, not to mention monitor. As with other Apple PCs, Blu-ray is not yet an option.

A recent development in small PCs are the nettops, which run low-powered (mostly Intel Atom) processors. They're designed for Web-related work and running basic productivity apps like Microsoft Word and Excel, but some small-form-factor PCs are starting to crack that mold. The Polywell Poly ITX-9400B measures 2.8 by 7.2 by 9.8 inches (HWD), and might have been even tinier had it not included something unique among nettops: a built-in Blu-ray reader.

These incredible shrinking desktop PCs aren't restricted to consumer models, either. The Lenovo ThinkCentre M58p Eco Ultra Small caters to small to medium-size businesses. As you no doubt guessed by the "Eco" in its name, this is one lean green machine, worthy of carrying our PCMag GreenTech Approved seal. Many small-form-factor PCs offer energy savings befitting their diminutive size.

Compact doesn't have to mean expensive: the HP Pavilion Slimline s5120f is under $400, and it's a full-capability desktop, not a nettop.

My home desktop computer is also an HP Slimline, a year-old model that lacks some of the s3710t's bells and whistles but is a solid performer nonetheless. It currently resides on a small table beneath my desk, but I may well move it up top to sit behind my monitor, where it will be convenient yet out of sight. It is, after all, a desktop PC.

Featured in this Roundup:

Acer Aspire X1700-U3700A ($480 list)
The Acer Aspire X1700-U3700A is a decent PC for the den, home theater, or home office. It's got enough power to be your primary PC and is capable of moderate multimedia tasks.

Apple Mac mini (Nvidia GeForce 9400M) ($799 list)
The mini's new internals bring it up to the same performance level as Apple's MacBook, and that's a good thing. It's the nettop-sized desktop that's a better alternative for many users.

HP Pavilion Slimline s5120f ($399.99 list)
The HP Pavilion Slimline s5120f offers a good build quality and admirable performance for under $400. Plus it can run circles around nettops.

Lenovo ThinkCentre M58p Eco Ultra Small ($1,089 direct)
The Lenovo ThinkCentre M58p gives you a little more power than last year's model, but also uses a bit more energy. One thing, luckily, has gone down: the price.

MSI Wind CS120 ($320 street)
Cheap, quiet, and power efficient, the MSI fulfills the role of Web terminal, plus it runs Windows so you can use those old programs that you must still run. Just don't expect it to keep up with your "real" desktop or laptop.

Polywell Poly ITX-9400B ($699 direct)
Need a Blu-ray player and PC for your living room? Check out the Poly ITX-9400B, Polywell's latest energy- and space-saving combo.

As Analyst for printers, scanners, and projectors, Tony Hoffman tests and reviews these products and provides news coverage for these categories. Tony has worked at PC Magazine since 2004, first as a Staff Editor, then as Reviews Editor, and more recently as Managing Editor for the printers, scanners, and projectors team.
In addition to editing, Tony has written articles on digital photography and reviews of digital cameras, PCs, iPhone apps, and Web-connected apps like Google Earth and Microsoft WorldWide Telescope for PC Magazine and/or PCMag.com. He...
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